Flexible-belt coupling.



H. I, SIMMONS.

FLEXIBLE BELT COVERING.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 15, 1912.

1,065,736, Patented June 24, 1913.

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APPLICATION FILED JUNE 15, 1912.

1,065,736. Patented June 24, 1913.

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HERRMANN I. SIMMONS, OF SOUTH WINDHAM, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THESMITH AND WINCHESTER MANUFACTURING 00., OF SOUTH WINDI-IAM, CON- NECTICUT.

FLEXIBLE-BELT COUPLING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 24, 1913.

Application filed June 15, 1912. Serial No. 703,902.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HERRMANN I. SIM- MONS, acitizen of the United States, residing at South \Vindham, in the countyof W indham and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and usefulFlexible-Belt Coupling; and I do hereby declare the fol lowing to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

This invention relates to a new and useful flexible shaft coupling,adapted principally for use for coupling the shafts of an engine and anelectric motor.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a device of thisnature, whereby two shafts, that may be slightly out of alinement, maybe coupled.

It is a further object of the invention to provide two members, onesecured to one end of each shaft, and having inter-receiving portionsprovided with claws, about which a flexible belt may be inter-laced,thereby producing a novel and practical flexible shaft coupling.

The invention comprises further features and combination of parts, ashereinafter set forth, shown in the drawings and claimed.

In the drawings :Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a portion of anengine, and portion of a gear 3 of a motor or the like, showing theinvention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view throughthe flexible shaft coupling. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 3-8 ofFig. 2. Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line 44 of Fig. 2.

Referring more particularly to the drawings 1 designates an enginehaving a drive shaft 2, while 3 denotes a portion of a gear of anelectric motor or other device or machinery, to be coupled to the engine1, through the medium of the flexible shaft coupling device 5. In thefigures of the drawings, a clutch gear 7 is loosely mounted on the shaft2, and to the hub portion 8 of this clutch gear, a sleeve member 9 isfitted, the same being fixed to rotate with the clutch gear by means ofthe bolt 10, which penetrates a portion of the clutch gear, and isthreaded into the sleeve 9. Fitting within the sleeve 9 are the rings 10and 11. The sleeve 9 is provided with an annular flange 12, from theouter portion of which and extending laterally therefrom is a series ofclaws 18, each of which is provided with cylindrical portions 14 at eachend. The claws 13 are separated from one another, as shown, in orderthat the flexible belt may be inter-laced from one to the other. At thepoint where the claws 13 are cast to the annular flange 12 a bead orannular raised portion 15 is provided, to which a cover of sheet metal16 is secured, by means of the screws 17. This cover is designed forthepurpose of preventing an attendant or. other person from getting hishands entangled in the spaces between the flexible ;belt 18.

' Fitting the outer circumference of the sleeve 9 and adjacent theannular flange 12 is a sleeve 19, which is provided with an annularflange 20, which corresponds substantially with the flange 12, but isnot as wide. Projecting laterally from the flange 20 is a series ofspaced apart claws 21, which are similar to the claws l8, and partiallyabout which the belt 18 inter-laces, thereby flexibly coupling thesleeves 9 and 19 to gether. In case the flexible belt becomes broken, orotherwise incapable of performing its work, a safety device is provided.This safety device comprises a lug or pin 23, which extends into a slot24 of the flange 20 of sleeve 19. The slot 24 is curved on the arc of acircle, using the center of the shaft 2 as the center. The lug or pin 23is provided with an extension 25, which passes through the flange 12,and to which a nut 26 is threaded, thereby securing the pin or lugfirmly in position. This pin or lug 23, it will be seen, has a limitedmovement in the slot 24, and in case the flexible belt 18 should becomebroken, or otherwise incapable, the pin 23 would contact with one end orthe other of the slot 24, itdepending on which direction the drivenshaft 2 is rotated. The said shaft 2 will rotate in this manner, untilthe engine is stopped, long enough to permit the belt to be repaired, ora new one installed.

Secured to the claws 21 is an annular ring 27, by means of the screws28. This annular ring 27 extends beyond the outer portions of the clawsl3, and below the inner portion of the claws 21, as shown, in order toprevent displacement of the flexible belt.

The members 29 and 30 are provided with projections 31 and 32. Themember 29 is keyed to rotate with the shaft 2, by means of the key 29and is adapted to move or rotate within the rings 10 and 11. The member30 is loosely mounted upon the shaft 2, and is adapted to slide thereon,and the pins 3-3 passing through openings of the projections 32 act asguide for the member 30. This member 30 is limited in its movement bythe lug 2 of the shaft 2. Any suitable lever (not shown) having suitableconnections (not shown) with the annular groove 30 of the member 30 maybe provided, for shifting the member 30. The pins are provided withreduced portions 34:, which extend through the projections 31, and areprovided with nuts 35, in order to secure the pins in place. The ends ofthe pins are constructed with flat portions which are designed tocontact with one or another of the shoulders of sleeve 19, when themember 30 is shifted in the direction of the member 29, so as to causethe sleeve 19 to rotate with the shaft 2, and being that the flexiblebelt 18 inter-laces in and out of the claws l3 and 21., the sleeves 9will also be rotated with the shaft 2 and sleeve 19. hen the sleeve 9 isthus rotated, the clutch gear is in turn rotated, because of the bolt 10which passes through the clutch gear and into the sleeve 9. In thismanner the clutch gear 7 transmits power to the gear 8 of any suitablemachinery (not shown). When the member 30 is shifted in contact with thelug 2 the parts 19, 9 and 7 are not rotated with the shaft 2. The lug 29of the key 29 limits the rearward movement of the member 29. The claws13 may be secured in any suitable manner to the flange 12, integrally orotherwise.

From the foregoing it will be noted, there has been devised a novel andeflicient flexible or elastic belt shaft coupling, and one which hasbeen found particularly desirable and p 'actical.

The invention having been set forth, whatis claimed as new and usefulis 1. In combination, a revoluble shaft, a driven member looselyjournaled thereon, a sleeve element fixed on the driven member, a secondsleeve elementconstituting a driving member loosely sleeved upon thefirst sleeve element, means for connecting the second sleeve element tothe revoluble shaft, the first sleeve element constituting a bearingextending axially with said shaft for the sec ond sleeve element, thesleeve elements having adjacent flanges, each terminating in a series ofspaced apart broad claws, the ends of each of which terminate in roundedportions, said claws and rounded portions extending axially with saidshaft, one series being arranged within the other, a flexible beltinterlaced between the claws of both series to cause the two sleeveelements to rotate together, an annular ring carried by one series ofclaws and adapted to overlap the other series, to retain the beltinterlaced upon the claws, an. annular band cover secured on the flangeof the first sleeve element to protectthe flexible belt, the flange ofthe second sleeve element having a segmental slot, and a pin carried bythe flange of the first sleeve element to extend into said slot, therebyconstituting a safety device between the sleeve elements, in the eventthe flexible belt becomes incapable of performing its work.

2. .ln combination, a revoluble shaft, a driven member loosely journaledthereon, a sleeve element fixed on the driven member, a second sleeveelement constituting a driving member loosely sleeved upon the firstsleeve element, means for connecting the second sleeve element to therevoluble shaft, the first sleeve element constituting a bearingextending axially with said shaft for the second sleeve element, thesleeve ele ments having adjacent flanges, each terminating in a seriesof spaced apart claws extending axially with said shaft, one seriesbeing arranged within the other, a flexible belt interlaced between theclaws of both series to cause the two sleeve elements to rotatetogether, a ring carried by one series of claws and adapted to overlapthe other series, to retain the belt interlaced upon the claws, anannular band cover secured on the first sleeve element to protect theflexible belt, the flange of the second sleeve element raving asegmental slot, and a pin carried by the flange of the first sleeveelement to extend into said slot, thereby constituting a safety devicebetween the sleeve elements in the event the flexible belt becomesincapable of performing its work.

3. In combination, a pair of sleeved elements, one sleeved within andacting as a bearing for the other, one constituting a driving member,while the other acts as the driven member, said elements having adjacentflanges, each terminating in a series of spaced apart claws, one seriesbeing ar-' ranged within the other and overhz-inging the sleevedportions of said elements, a flexible belt interlaced between the clawsof both series to cause the two sleeved elements to rotate together, aring carried by one series of claws and adapted to overlap the otherseries to retain the belt interlaced upon the claws, an annular bandcover secured on the driven element, arching over the belt and engagingsaid ring to protect the belt, the flange of the driving element havinga segmental slot, and a pin carried by the flange of the driven elementto extend into said slot, thereby constituting a safety device betweenthe sleeve elements, in the event the flexible belt becomes incapable ofperforming its work.

4-. In combination, a pair of sleeved elements, one sleeved within andacting as a iio bearing for the other, one constituting a drivingmember, while the other acts as the driven member, said elements havingadjacent flanges, each terminating in a series of spaced apart broadclaws, the ends of each of which terminate in rounded portions, saidclaws and rounded portions extending in surfaces concentric with thesleeve elements, one series being arranged within the other andoverhanging the sleeved portions of said elements, a flexible beltinterlaced between the claws of both series to cause the two sleevedelements to rotate together, a ring carried by one series of claws andadapted to overlap the other series to retain the belt interlaced uponthe claws, an annular band cover secured on the flange of the drivenelement and arching over the belt and engaging said ring to protect thebelt, the flange of the driving element having a segmental slot, and apin carried by the flange of the driven element to extend into saidslot, there by constituting a safety device between the sleeve elements,in the event the flexible beltbecomes incapable of performing its work,and means having connections with the driving element for driving thesame.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

HERRMANN I. SIMMONS.

Witnesses: i

FRANK B. LATHROP, E. LAPIERRE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

